Hear candidates in Iowa House District 37 on taxes, eminent domain

Two Republican candidates, Jason Sandholdt and Chase Spencer, are vying for the open seat in Iowa House District 37, which covers parts of Jasper, Mahaska, and Marion counties. The seat became open when incumbent Republican state Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla stepped down to run for an open state Senate seat. No Democratic candidates have filed for the race, leaving the primary election on June 2 as a two-way Republican contest. Sandholdt, 55, is the Marion County sheriff and has served in law enforcement for 14 years. He also holds a leadership role in the Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies Association and has been appointed to state boards by the governor. His top priority is fiscal responsibility, aiming to balance state spending on essential services like public safety and education while cutting wasteful expenditures. He has developed a plan to achieve this, emphasizing efficiency and prioritizing needs over wants. Spencer, 23, currently works as a manager at Drake University’s Entrepreneurship Centers. His political experience includes interning in the Iowa House of Representatives and working in the governor’s office. His campaign centers on economic development, particularly supporting small businesses through education, community networks, and a more favorable business environment rather than just government loans. On education policy, Spencer advocates for relaxing state restrictions on how school districts use funds, giving local communities more control over spending decisions. Sandholdt, meanwhile, has begun consulting with educators, parents, and administrators to address challenges in Iowa’s schools, though his full plan remains incomplete in the provided materials. The Des Moines Register sent questions to both candidates as part of its coverage of legislative races, with their responses edited lightly for clarity. The June 2 primary will determine which Republican secures the nomination for the district, which has no Democratic opposition.